Words // Joshler

// First Real Day

In which Tyler and Josh leave for their first day of college.

"Tyler, Josh is here!" called the voice from downstairs. The sound of the car pulling up could be heard from out front.

"Coming!" Tyler shouted quickly pulling on his maroon hoodie. Today was his first real day at Columbus University, and he hoped the particular shade of his sweatshirt might inspire him to feel braver. He eagerly ran down the stairs and opened the front door to reveal none other than Josh Dun walking up the sidewalk.

Almost immediately, Josh ran the rest of the way up the steps, grabbed Tyler by the waist, and swung him around in a circle, making the other boy laugh. Carefully, Josh set him down, and they shared a brief kiss.

"This is crazy," Josh said, although he was smiling brightly. "We're going to college! I still can't believe it."

"Me neither," Tyler admitted. It was daunting, of course, going to a big school full of people from all over Ohio, and beyond. Still, they had one another.

Over the summer, plenty of things had happened. The first, namely, being that Tyler had taken the time to get a job at the art store that he loved so much, which not only earned him money for art supplies but allowed him to be around the craft he so adored. 

Secondly, Tyler's parents had finally acknowledged and accepted that he wasn't straight. This was probably the best news because it meant he felt happier and safer at home, and additionally, he could have Josh over all the time. Tyler's mother, in fact, seemed to have grown to truly like Josh--he'd once overheard her say that he was a good influence on him. Tyler's father was still rather awkward around Josh, but he always did his best to make him feel at home, and so Tyler was pretty satisfied. 

Thirdly, Tyler and Josh had both applied for scholarships at Columbus University, and by some beautiful twist of fate, had both gotten in.

Today, they would be moving into their dorm rooms. It was crazy, how quickly things seemed to be changing for them, and it made Tyler a little nervous. Still, he was more confident and comfortable with himself than he had been during high school, and so he hoped it would all turn out okay.

"Do you have everything packed up?" Josh asked. He had gotten his mom's old car over the summer, and he would be the one driving Tyler to their college.

Tyler nodded and stepped just inside the doorway, flashing his lover a teasing grin. "Gosh, I wish I had a strong, tough man in my life to carry all of those boxes out to the car for me."

"Well, I may not be strong or tough, but I do have the dedication." Josh grinned back.

The two boys headed inside, hand in hand. Tyler's mother was pulling a tray of cookies out of the oven, but she looked up as she saw the lovers and smiled. "Hello, Josh!"

"Hey, Mrs. Joseph." Josh waved with his free hand.

"Josh, please, I've told you, call me Kelly." She laughed slightly as Tyler practically dragged Josh up the stairs.

They soon stood in Tyler's room, which was the same soft yellow it had always been. All of Tyler's things were packed up in cardboard boxes now, and his bed was stripped bare.

Tyler himself had quite a lot of memories in this room--first moving in, inviting Josh over to study, the inspiration for his perfect painting, and lots and lots of kissing. Yes, there had been many things that had happened here, and it made Tyler nostalgic. He just stood there, staring out at all of this space. After a moment, a sigh escaped his lips, and he rested his head on Josh's shoulder.

"Color?" Josh asked.

"Pale green."

Tyler and Josh had learned many things about one another as their relationship blossomed. One of the things Josh learned about Tyler was the way he described feelings with colors. "It's an artist thing, I think," the boy had explained one night as they'd laid in Josh's backyard, fingers intertwined and eyes staring up at the darkening sky. "It just makes sense to me."

Josh was not only curious about this, he was fascinated by it, and so Tyler had taught him what all of the colors meant to him. Over time, Josh had memorized most of them, and now he was in the habit of asking Tyler what color he was feeling.

Really, Tyler was just glad Josh didn't think he was weird.

Pale green meant nostalgia and youth. Looking out on all of this, that was what Tyler felt. A longing for what once was, a slight nervousness at what was about to be.

"Hey, it's alright." Josh pecked his lover's cheek, just to make him smile. "We're gonna do this together."

Both boys carried boxes downstairs, stacking them up in Josh's car. Much of Tyler's things were art supplies, and so they both did their best to be careful with the boxes. By the time they had finished, they were both a little worn out, and they plopped down together in chairs at the kitchen table.

"I made cookies," Mrs. Joseph said with a hint of pride in her tone, setting a paper plate stacked high with chocolatey treats on the table. "They're for you to take to your dorm. Josh, you take some too, alright?"

"I will, Kelly, thank you." Josh smiled at the woman.

Tyler was glad that she had come around to the relationship he shared with Josh. In particular, he was also glad that they had formed a bit of a bond that had been missing before--because, as it was now obvious, Mrs. Joseph was very pregnant. Only a month from giving birth, to be exact. Tyler was a mix of excited and nervous about the baby; everyone was. It was going to be strange, not growing up in the same house with them. Without thinking, he grabbed a cookie from the plate and ate it.

"Save some for later," Mrs. Joseph chided, but she offered Tyler a smile. "Are you all packed up?"

"Yes, mom."

"Did you pack your clothes? Your toothbrush? Your art supplies?"

"Yes, mom."

"How about pajamas?"

"Mom, I got everything!"

"Alright, just checking."

"We should probably get going," Josh interjected, almost apologetically.

Mrs. Joseph watched as both boys got up from their chairs and took the cookies. "I can't believe this is happening! My baby, off to college. You're going to have so much fun, Tyler; I loved college. It's where I met your father, you know."

"I know, I know." Tyler approached his mother and gave her a hug. "I'm going to miss you, mom."

The woman hugged back tightly. "I'll miss you too." She then let go, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "Promise you'll come back to visit?"

"I promise."

"You can bring that boyfriend of yours," Mrs. Joseph added, smiling in Josh's direction for a moment, "and have dinner. I'll walk you out."

The pale green feeling washed over Tyler even more as he got into the passenger seat in Josh's used minivan, his mother standing on the porch and watching them. A few tears rolled down her face, but she was smiling, and she waved as Josh put the key in the ignition. "I love you!"

"I love you too, mom!" Tyler shouted, and Josh put his foot on the gas. As they drove down the street, both boys took the first steps towards adulthood, and it was strangely beautiful.